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January 11, 2011

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Ex-DC schools chancellor Michelle Rhee is on hand for Gov. Chris Christie's State of the State address, going on right now. The event is being live-streamed here. In October, Christie offered Rhee the chance to become the state's education commissioner, and she served on Florida governor Rick Scott's transition, all while launching her own Students First organization.

Rhee also has an op-ed today in the Wall Street Journal, sounding an optimistic note on education reform arguing that both budget cuts and education reform are entirely possible -- and even compatible:

[P]ublic support is building for a frontal attack on the educational status quo. And policy makers are rising to the challenge, not only because their budgets are tighter than ever, but also because they see an opportunity to reverse the current trend of discouraging academic results for our children.

UPDATE: Christie highlights Rhee's work in his speech. “No one in America has been more clear that we must change our public education system,” said Christie. "Thank you Michelle"

I grudgingly admire Rhee for her genuine work in the DC schools. You can't argue with results, and she got them. But, having seen her speak in person a few times, I find her to be one of the most obnoxiously smug and rude people I have ever seen. I can see why people in DC approved of her job performance but of the woman herself.